OP 01 - 2024/04/13
Situation
40 Commando's B Company and 29 Commando's 7th Battery, along with Squadrons from Joint Helicopter Command, are aboard HMS Dauntless and HMS Queen Elizabeth, arriving in the region precisely a week following the agreement between Novograd and Borealos for UK intervention. The rapid deployment of our assets provides a strategic advantage, increasing the likelihood of catching the Black Bear Raiders off guard upon our arrival. However, we remain acutely aware of the potential for Whitewater's intelligence capabilities to have detected the movements of the naval strike group and our impending operation. This awareness requires careful planning relating to the following taskings, as it's conceivable that the enemy may be hastily preparing to secure or relocate their assets in response to our presence.
Upon entering range, HMS Dauntless has been actively monitoring all air traffic to and from the island of Utes, indicating significant utilisation of logistical and transport helicopters by Whitewater, primarily between Utes and Bolshevik. It's worth noting that not all air traffic is deemed illicit; there are instances of civilian transport between Utes and Novograd as well.
Acknowledgements
Airspace and territorial waters of Novograd (North West) MUST NOT be infringed, while intervention in the region has been agreed, access to their territory has been a point of contention.
While Black Bear Raiders are known to use buildings within towns, cities and compounds, due to the known civilian presence. Close Air Support and Artillery is not authorised within 100m of the following towns on the island:
- Strelka
- Kamenyy
Recce elements should monitor towns for potential movement however due to the multiple compounds scattered across the island, a build up of any significant forces in the town will be unlikely. Ground elements are authorised to search and seize buildings with the capacity to hide weapon and ammo depots and caches.
As 40 Commando commences operations, the airspace surrounding the island of Utes will be restricted. Any aircraft operating in the vicinity will be contacted via radio. Should they persist in their course, HMS Dauntless will take necessary action to engage them.
Known uniforms:
Borealos Defense Force [BDF]
- Border Checkpoint (image)
Novograd Peoples Legion [NPL]
Novograd Security Forces
Black Bear Raiders
- Controlled port (image)
Known equipment:
Black Bear Raiders
- Significant number light vehicles
- Heavy transport vehicles for logistics
- Armoured and unarmoured boats
Whitewater PMC
- Light armed and armoured vehicles
- Armed, logistical and transport helicopters spotted moving between Utes, Bolshevik and Novograd
- Heavy transport vehicles for logistics
Intent & Tasking(s)
The main goal of this operation is to establish a secure base of operations on the island of Utes, facilitating future operations to stabilise the area and counter the illicit activities threatening regional security and stability.
Main objectives overview - [ image 1 | image 2 | image 3 ]
To achieve this goal, our first objective is to neutralise the anti-air/radar installation, which poses a threat to our air assets and limits support of 40 Cdo during this operation. Once the threat is eliminated and reinforcements are destroyed, our next priority is to secure and search the suspected Whitewater compound, gathering intelligence and evidence of their involvement and to what capacity. Their operational security is impeccable, once the element of surprise is lost the chances of recovering anything of significance drops drastically.
Securing both the airfield situated at the island's centre and the dock along its northern coastline are paramount to establishing comprehensive security and control over the island. These strategic targets serve as key hubs for logistical support and maritime access, crucial for sustaining operations and enforcing our presence effectively.
Coordination between 40 Cdo, 29 Cdo and JHC, along with precise execution of each objective, will be paramount to the success of this operation and the broader mission to restore stability to the region.
In preparation for continued operations and to further degrade enemy capabilities, the optional objective involves targeting multiple hangars on the nearby island of Bolshevik. Due to the current status of anti-air defences in the area remaining unknown at this time, securing a position on one of the two islands to the East and conducting artillery or missile strikes on visible hangars presents a viable option. While the target is optional, destroying the hangers will deal a significant blow to Whitewater and Black Bear Raiders logistics, by losing an airfield and multiple air assets in a single opening strike against their ongoing operations.
Optional objective overview - [ image 1 ]
Markings
| Objective / Target |
Grid Reference | Marker |
Markings |
| Anti-Air/Radar installation | 181 088 | OBJ Ares | Image |
| Utes Airfield & Hangars | 177 091 | OBJ Butes | Image |
| Potential Compound | 174 095 | OBJ Cronus | Image |
| Dock / Port | 174 101 | OBJ Daedalus | Image |
| Bolshevik Hangers | 031 027 | OBJ Eros | Image |
